Zambia arrests cannabis growers, traffickers

The Zambian narcotics police arrested 80 cannabis growers and traffickers in a crackdown that led to the recovery of nearly 3 tons of marijuana.

Gaborone - The Zambian Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested 80 cannabis growers and traffickers in a country-wide crackdown that led to the recovery of nearly three tons of marijuana.

In a statement issued to the media in the northern city of Ndola on Tuesday night, DEC Public Relations Officer Theresa Katongo said the suspects were rounded up in raids which targeted cannabis growing areas in the Central, Eastern and Luapula provinces at the weekend.

She said the suspects would appear in court to face charges that include the cultivation and trafficking in illegal drugs. Most of the detainees were males and included a cross-border truck driver who had already been sentenced to seven years for the illegal possession and trafficking of 350 kilograms of marijuana.

– African News Agency